Starting this Friday, the Archaeological Museum of Alicante presents the exhibition Dénia. Archaeology and Museum, a project that traces the city's history from its origins to contemporary times. more than six hundred pieces sourced from local collections and reference institutions.
The proposal, curated by Massu Sentí and museographically conceived by the architect Angel RocamoraIt brings together funds from the Museu Arqueològic de la Ciutat de Dénia and the MARQ itself, with loans from such prominent museums as the Louvre or National Archaeological MuseumIn addition to Bancaja FoundationAmong others. For the first time, the celebrated collection of Islamic bronzes of Dénia.
Opening hours and access
The official opening begins at 12:00 in the MARQ auditorium with a speech by the mayor Vicent Grimalt, the deputy for Culture John of God Navarrothe commissioner Massu Sentí, the museum director Manuel Olcina and the managing director of the MARQ Foundation José Alberto Cortés.
To facilitate public visits, the following have been scheduled: days of open doors Friday, November 14, from 19:00 p.m. to 15:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 19:00 p.m.; and Sunday, November 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m. Free access during these times. There will be no guided tours.
Also, until April 2026 The MARQ offers free admission every Saturday and Sunday at 10:00, with prior reservation by phone. 96 642 02 60 (from 9:00 to 15:00). The groups will have a maximum of 25 people.
Following the opening speeches, the invited guests and media will tour the exhibition in groups of 25, a dynamic that streamlines access and improves the visitor experience within the rooms.
The opening day will also feature radio coverage: the space Today in Dénia Marina Alta It will broadcast live from the museum to bring the contents of the exhibition and the atmosphere of the opening closer to the viewer.
Tour and highlights
The itinerary offers a broad view of ancient Dénia: from the rock art of the Cova de la Catxupa and enclaves like the Alt de Benimaquia, up to the Roman city of Dianium and its transformation into the Islamic medina of madīna Dāniya, culminating in the milestones of modern Dénia and the 20th century.
The first room, dedicated to the connection with the sea, welcomes the visitor with a llaut and a floor that evokes the waves, on which objects that arrived via ancient trade routes are displayed: wine and oil amphoraeMedieval ceramics from shipwrecks and, as the main attraction, the complete collection of Islamic bronzes Denia.
This space also focuses on the international projection of raisin trade During the 19th century, it was an economic engine that connected the city with numerous European ports and left a deep mark on its landscape and memory.
The second area focuses on the land and the materiality of the territory: the recreation of the Dianium port facade with its docks and buildings, the necropolises with grave goods, and the agricultural villas and amphora production centers, including the one in l'AlmadravaThe Islamic period is illustrated by commercial districts, a bustling port suburb, and more than twenty ceramic kilnsIn modern times, the village was elevated to the status of a city in 1612 and, after the crisis of the 19th century, it oriented its economy towards a toy industry emerging.
Among the most notable loans are the inscribed marble plaque of the vizier Abu Amir Muhammad (11th century), from the Louvreand the canvas The Embarkation of the Moriscos at the Port of Dénia, Vicent Mestre, provided by the Bancaja FoundationThese contributions are complemented by works from National Archaeological Museum, from the Museum of Prehistory and the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia, as well as MARQ itself.
With a speech that alternates sea and land As explanatory axes, the exhibition proposes an immersive experience that updates knowledge about the past of Dénia and puts into context milestones, landscapes and findings from more than a century of archaeological research.
The quote reaffirms MARQ as a leading museum and educational institution, bringing an exceptional selection of pieces, an accessible access schedule, and a tour that helps to understand, with a contemporary perspective, the historical identity Denia.